In pictures: Ski Dubai's penguins

Dubai, Jan 30th, 2012 -- A colony of snow penguins from Sea World in San Antonio will move into Ski Dubai in Mall of Emirates starting in February 2012. Visitors to ÔSnow Penguins at Ski DubaiÕ will get a chance to get up close and personal with the birds and learn about them. Photo by: Sarah Dea/ The National

Trainer Nikki Morrison feeds capelin fish to a penguin.

Beginning on Sunday, guests can witness a daily ‘march of the penguins’, where the extraordinary birds navigate around the snow park, as part of a physical and mental enrichment programme. Sarah Dea/ The National

The penguins are administered by a 13-member international team, brought in specifically to care for these aquatic animals. Sarah Dea / The National

Groups of 10 to 20 can also book tickets to the ‘Peng-Friend’ programme, which gives them the chance to directly interact with the penguins. Sarah Dea/ The National

Mona Lisa Species: King penguin Unique characteristic: Ski Dubai’s Operations Manager Tom Scheffer named his favourite penguin after Leonardo da Vinci’s famed muse when he noticed her love of the limelight. “She’s a diva,� Scheffer says, pointin???

Jumeirah Species: King penguin Unique characteristic: Due to his cool and collected vibe, the trainers named him after Dubai’s coastal residential area. Sarah Dea/ The National

Hadi Species: King penguin Unique characteristic: On Sunday, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, the UAE’s Minister of Presidential Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, met the penguins and named his favourite one “Hadi�, meaning calm.

McFatty Species: King penguin Unique characteristic: The king of the hill is a bit of a bully, but is secretly a softie, enjoying a hug more than eating fish. He’s been big since birth – in fact, he couldn’t hatch out of his egg until trainers helpe???

Trainer Eric gets a hug from McFatty, the peguin loves affection more than fish.